As I wait for the final images of the cover I am struck with the realization that this is really happening. Within days from now I will have another book ready to publish. I learned a lot from the first time I published. I learned that people can have a wide range of opinions about the same piece of literature. I learned that some mistakes cannot be fixed. I learned the internet is a useful tool. And I thought I learned that I should not worry about what other people think. But the latter is a hard lesson to learn. The truth is that when you have something to sell, whether it be a book, a song, or an article of clothing, it has to appeal to someone or else it does not sell. Not everyone will like the same style of writing.

This brings to mind a story that I used to read to my daughters. It is titled You are Special by Max Lucado. There were wooden puppet type figures called Wemmicks that judged everyone by giving them either stars or dots, the former was deemed good and the latter was only supposed to put us down. They were labels. But there was one Wemmick, named Lucia, who these stickers would never stick to. No matter how many stars or dots were given to her, they would simply fall off. A certain Wemmick, Punchinello, had been given a lot of gray dots and wanted to be without any stickers like Lucia. So she took him to see Eli, the Wemmick maker. Eli tells Punchinello, “You are mine. That is what makes you special.” The dots start falling off from that moment.

We are days away from publication of Pride and Persistence and I am trying, very valiantly I might add, to feel like Eli does about his Wemmicks. I have no doubt that this is a better book than Mr. Darcy’s Promise. I also am even more confident in its editing and final read through. I admit I was fully entertained while approving it for the last time. So does it matter all that much if someone gives it a star or a dot? The truth is, it is mine and that is what makes it special. I should just let the stickers fall where they will, just not on me and my work. It took a lot of work to get to this point. The outline for the book was started in July 2012. It took almost three months to write it and a few more months of editing from my volunteer betas. Then in October I hired an editor, Katrina Beckstrand, and we have worked nearly nonstop together for five months. All the while, I worked and approved the original painting that is the cover done my Rebecca Watkins. Then these last ten days I have given instructions and given feedback on the graphic design of the cover and marketing materials like bookmarks etc. that is being done by Kara Watkins. Then there is all the background blogging and promotions, networking, setting up reviews and scheduling guest blogs on other websites. It can get demanding. Self-publishing is very rewarding and the reason it is so rewarding is because you know its success is a direct reflection of the amount of work you put into it. Which brings me round circle. I have worked very hard on this book. It has been half agony as I see it transformed into something even more beautiful and yet I still have the fear of rejection. But in truth, we can only do what we can do. I recently found a quote that summarizes my thoughts. “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” –Vince Lombardi So it with a bit of agony, and a bit of hope that I will hit that submit button and give to the world what I love so much. I know people will want to judge it and give it a star or a dot, but I know deep down its true worth, for I am its maker. I hope that Pride and Persistence finds a way into your heart like it has mine. Jeanna Ellsworth Hey Lady Publications

Jeanna, this is beautiful! The Wemmicks analogy is perfect, and I am excited over your new book. I have no doubt that it is better because you are constantly improving and striving to be a better writer. You go, girl!

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jeanna

3/27/2014 12:48:23 am

Thank you. I was getting cold feet and it helped to write about what I was feeling. I hope this message rings true for everyone out there. We dont need stars to tell us our worth. We just need to remember who wecame from. We are God's children....and he loves us that way.

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Becky

3/27/2014 02:45:55 am

Jeanna, this was fun to read, and I am proud of you. :)

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Jeanna

3/27/2014 09:20:14 am

Thanks Becky. I really am proud of what I am about to give to the world. It just takes a little grit to hit the submit button.

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Joy King (J Dawn King)

3/27/2014 08:46:57 am

I feel your anxiety. It has been under a week since I self-published my first book and it feels like I am a new Mom asking complete strangers if they think my baby is cute or not. The potential for agony or Joy is tremendous. I loved your first book and will be awaiting this one. Thanks for sharing. It feels good to know I am not alone. (

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Jeanna

3/27/2014 09:21:47 am

Thanks Joy. It is true, we have birthed a baby and now we wait for the kind words and pray that no one flinches when we pull down the blanket. I'll have to look up your book. What is it called?

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Joy King

3/27/2014 09:00:13 pm

A Father's Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by J Dawn King. Do you have a target date for release?

Good Luck Jeanna, great post it is a lesson I have been striving all my life to learn (I'm getting there) criticism can be good but only if it is positive. When I write my reviews I always have that in mind, that someone has made effort to produce something for my pleasure whether I like it or not is my opinion, but the point is it is just that, an opinion! I have Mr Darcy's promise on my to read list for April and am looking forward to reading it!

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Jeanna

3/27/2014 09:24:37 am

I have even learned that criticism can be very helpful. Some of the errors I made in the first book allowed me to correct my writing style with the books I am writing now. Some of my best lessons were hard lessons but look how much better I have become. Truth is just that it hurts at first but then we heal. If we take care of the wound then there is perfect healing. If we let if fester then there will be scars. Sorry to throw a little nurse jargon at you. Comes naturally.

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Aldrian Obaja

10/27/2014 04:33:43 pm

Hi Jeanna,

I really like the illustration that you put in this article. Where did you get it? May I used it in my website? As profile pictures?

Thank you in advance.

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About the Author

Jeanna is a mother of three daughters, all whom are well versed in Pride and Prejudice; they are her best friends and the inspiration for her writing. She also proudly states she is the eighth of thirteen children. When she isn’t blogging, gardening, cooking, or raising chickens—or more realistically, writing—she is thoroughly ignoring her house for a few hours at a time in order to read yet another romance novel. Somewhere between being a mom, sister, writer, and cook, she squeezes in three 12-hour shifts each week as a Registered Nurse in a Neurological ICU. She finds great joy in her writing and claims she has never been happier.

Jeanna fell in love again with Jane Austen when she was introduced to the incredible world of Jane Austen inspired fiction. She can never adequately thank the fellow authors who mentored her and encouraged her to write her first novel. Through writing, Jeanna has gained something that no one can take away from her: hope for her own Mr. Darcy. More than anything, she hopes to prepare her three best friends to look for their own Mr. Darcy and to settle for nothing less. Jeanna’s works include: Mr. Darcy’s Promise, Pride and Persistence, To Refine Like Silver, Hope For Mr. Darcy, and Hope For Fitzwilliam. She is eagerly working on her first attempt at an original Regency romance novel: Inspired By Grace. For more information on these books, please visit her website, www.HeyLadyPublications.com